Steves - Rick Steves Scandinavia

Join in the Viking fun

Helsinki harbor, Finland

Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden

SCANDINAVIA

Scandinaviaknown for its stunning natural beauty, fun-loving cities, trend-setting design, progressive politics, high latitudes, and even higher taxesis one of Europes most enjoyable and most interesting corners. A visit here connects you with immigrant roots, modern European values, and the great outdoors like nowhere else. Youll gasp at breathtaking fjords, glide on a cruise ship among picturesque islands, and marvel at the efficiency and livability of its big cities. Yes, Scandinavia is expensive. But, delightfully, the best time to visitsummeris also the best time to get great deals on the fancier hotels.

This book breaks Scandinavia into its top big-city, small-town, and rural attractions. It gives you all the information and opinions necessary to wring the maximum value out of your limited time and money. If you plan to visit for a month or less in Scandinavia, this book has all the information youll need.

Experiencing the culture, people, and natural wonders of Scandinavia economically and hassle-free has been my life-long goal as a traveler, tour guide, and travel writer. With this book, I pass on to you the lessons Ive learned.

This book is balanced to include a comfortable mix of exciting capital cities and cozy small towns. It covers the predictable biggies and mixes in a healthy dose of Back Door intimacy. Along with seeing Tivoli Gardens, Hans Christian Andersens house, and The Little Mermaid, youll take a bike tour of a sleepy, remote Danish isle, dock at a time-passed fjord village, and wander among eerie, prehistoric monoliths in Sweden. And for an exciting Baltic side trip, Ive added my vote for the most interesting city in this corner of EuropeTallinn, Estonia.

The best is, of course, only my opinion. But after spending half of my adult life exploring and researching Europe, Ive developed a sixth sense for what travelers enjoy. Just thinking about the places featured in this book makes me want to belly up to a smrgsbord.

Use this legend to help you navigate the maps in this book.

Rick Steves Scandinavia is your smiling Swede, your Nordic navigator, and a personal tour guide in your pocket. This book is organized by destination. Each is a mini-vacation on its own, filled with exciting sights, strollable neighborhoods, affordable places to stay, memorable places to eat, and handy survival phrases.

In the following chapters, youll find these sections:

Planning Your Time suggests a schedule for how to best use your limited time.

Orientation includes specifics on public transportation, helpful hints, local tour options, easy-to-read maps, and tourist information.

Sights describes the top attractions and includes their cost and hours.

Self-Guided Walks take you through interesting neighborhoods, pointing out sights and fun stops.

Sleeping describes my favorite hotels, from good-value deals to cushy splurges.

Eating serves up a range of options, from inexpensive eateries to fancy restaurants.

Connections outlines your options for traveling to destinations by bus, train, plane, and boat. In car-friendly regions, Ive also included route tips for drivers.

Country introductions give you an overview of each countrys culture, customs, money, history, current events, cuisine, language, and other useful practicalities.

The Scandinavian History chapter introduces you to some key people and events in these nations complicated pasts, making your sightseeing that much more meaningful.

Key to This Book

Updates

This book is updated regularlybut things change. For the latest, visit www.ricksteves.com/update.